DreamLyrics™ Play-by-Post Forums Hall of Fame - Latest Top 10 completed games LMP: Lost Mines of Phandelver N.3.1.2 Wyvern Tor

DM

When Chandan gets to Jaliera and the orc to help out, he finds the rogue on top of the struggling orc, riding him like a skilled horse trainer trying to break a young stallion. She's hanging on with every last vestige of her strength, trying to keep him under control. Chandan is able to quickly tighten the ropes and, in short order, the orc is well muzzled, bound and gagged tightly by the pair.

Now what?

Chandan

Kallista and Kriv are on guard, should the rest of the orcs attack, allowing Chandan and Davroar to concentrate on carrying away the sentry. Jaliera's a capable archer, so she should keep her bow handy.

But the dishevelled monk simply says, "We go."

If everyone is in agreement, he'll take their orc captive north-west. It's roughly in the direction of town, and there is another large hill that might give them a vantage or a sheltered side, should they need it.

Kriv

He nodded his assent: Securing the sentry for interrogation and silent entry was why they had acted. Taking him, questioning him, then assaulting the unguarded cave were in order.

He remained on overwatch, covering the retrieval.

Davroar

He simply nods in agreement with Chandan as he helps to pick up the bound orc by its feet, and to quickly exit the area while they have the chance.

Jaliera

She is relieved when the others arrive and finally the orc is safely subdued. As Chandan and Davroar carry the burden she covers their exit with her bow, whilst moving backwards keeping pace with the others. Once back with the others she apologises.

"I'm sorry. I screwed up. I should have waited until you guys arrived before trying to tie him up. I have learned my lesson now."

Kriv

He nodded a curt agreement, but added,

"You recovered the situation well, and it seems he was unable to rouse the others of his ilk. There are harsher ways to learn. Let's move out of squealing orc earshot, he will likely take some persuasion before telling us what we want to know."

Chandan

As he'd said to Jaliera, even the flight of the eagle starts with an ungainly hop.

And so it is. Besides which, the deed is done.

"Some paths are harder than others, Orc-Wrangler." He says to Jaliera, "But if a path leads to your intended destination, can't have been all wrong."

Chandan sniffs. Then sniffs himself, then the orc. Ever since he had that bath yestereve, the world has seemed a more malodourous place!

DM
The quintet manage to drag away their orc prisoner but they realize that they'll need to move him far to interrogate him. The orc was defiantly battling as it was being moved. It bucked and squirmed with each step they took. They could be sure that if they removed the gag, it would let out a loud orc scream.

Davroar

When the orc's struggling starts to hamper their progress, Davorar will stop and says, "This guy is slowing us up. I'll make it easier, just lash him up on my back."

Davroar will then shape-shift into a draft horse and patiently wait for the others to secure the orc across his back.

Jaliera

She chuckles.

"Orc-Wrangler! Like the sound of that."

As usual she is letting Whisper fly ahead to scout for them, just to let them know if anything or anyone approaches. Meanwhile she will stay alert covering the prisoner and anyone who approaches with her bow.

Kriv

He trusted himself to secure the prisoner to Davroar's back, securing it as best he could.

DM
Davroar transforms into a horse. Kriv and the rest of the party have to work together to get the orc onto Davroar's back and secure him. Even though it's a struggle, they manage to do it.

What now?

Chandan

He can't put the orc on the horse's back until he's picked his own jaw off of the ground. Davroar's gift is truly marvellous. Fortunately Kriv's jaw is unmoved and following his example, Chandan is soon lending a hand.

All in all, it isn't a bad catch, and he's impressed that Jaliera and Kallista could knock the creature out at range and with little outward effort.

The old monk grabs his spear and points with it to the hill he's picked out.

"Maybe there." He says, heading in that direction.

Glancing over his shoulder, he catches Kallista's eye. "Watch for pursuit too, yes."

Kallista

She nods. "Yes." Crouching down in the grass she adds, "I'll keep an eye out and catch up."

Davroar

Resisting the urge to go into a trot, he moves at a walking pace to remain as quiet as possible, going in the direction Chandan has pointed out.

He will keep one ear pointed in the direction of the caves mouth, and the other scanning ahead as they move away.

DM

Davroar trots away with the orc on his back. Orcs are lazy and so nobody in the cave seems to be missing their lookout.

Jaliera

She continues to provide an overwatch until they reach a safe distance out of sight and hearing of the orc base.

[OK, we need a couple of hard, pipe-hitting brothers to go to work on the orc here with a pair of pliers and a blowtorch.]

Chandan

He hurriedly congratulates his companions for a job well done. Jaliera, Davroar, Kallista, they'd all played their part, and now, as Chandan remembers it, Kriv has a knack for interrogation.

The bedraggled monk is a fine listener and has spent much of his life doing little else, but talking is not his forte, let alone in a language learned second-hand.

He steps up beside the reptilian fighter and nods amiably.

"So, now we find out if the orc know where Cragmaw Castle is." He says quietly, then adds, "I still have my spicy sauce if you need it."

Davroar

He will remain as a horse, standing a few yards away, to keep watch now that they are safely away from the orcs cave.

Kriv

Sometimes, coercion through force was a viable option. Sometimes, there were other options. He looked the Orc in the eyes and said,

"Tell us truthfully what we ask, and I will let you fight me, your strength against mine. If you win, you get to take my head back to the cave as a trophy and tell the others how you singlehandedly bested a group of enemies. If you refuse, we take you, trussed up as you are, and throw you on the ground before them, and we tell them how the little human girl beat you. Understand?"

Orc
It glares at the dragonborn with a combination of trepidation and opportunity and sya "ask".

Kriv

"Cragmaw Keep. You know what it is, where it is, are your tribe working for it?"